Consumers get $180 million in Microsoft settlement, lawyers get $75 million

Microsoft has settled its long-running antitrust case in
Iowa. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2000, claimed that Microsoft
was involved in anticompetitive business practices which in turn resulted in
higher prices for consumers.

The $75 million in fees represent a bill rate of $575 an
hour for each of the 150 lawyers, clerks and paralegals involved in the case.
Over a seven year period, 117,000 hours were logged in relation to the case.
The individual rate for Conlin and Hagstrom works out to $1,072 dollars per
hour. The payout for the two lawyers also includes a 43 percent risk premium
which was approved by a Polk County district judge.

While the lawyers will receive $75 million, Iowans will
receive $179.95 million -- $330 million was originally requested. Microsoft
will dish out $10, $16, $25 and $29 respectively for Word/Works/Home Essential,
Windows/DOS, Excel and Office. Individual consumers can claim up to $200
without a proof of purchase, however, any amount exceeding $200 must be backed
with supporting documentation.

Iowa consumers will receive their settlements in checks from
Microsoft while businesses and government bodies will receive pay vouchers.

Some Iowans aren't happy with the settlements they are
receiving in relation to the payout reserved for lawyer fees. "How in the
name of all that is sacred can you even imagine that to be equitable?" inquired
Parkersburg resident Betty Klingenbord. "I also do not like how this
makes Iowa look. Where will these lawsuits end?"

The settlement covers Iowans who purchased Microsoft
software between May 18, 1994 and June 30, 2006. Customers who wish to receive
their reimbursements from Microsoft must do so before the December 14 deadline.

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This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

My apologies rdeegvainl, I did not see the last line in your post even though I read it half a dozen times previously.

quote: I do think that Microsoft is fairly pricing what they sell.

I would wager I wasn't the only one who didn't catch that line either.

Free market how ever doesn't necessitate right or wrong. MS however is not a monopoly, and as a general rule any time they attempt to be competitive it gets labeled an anti-competitive business practice so in general I get quite riled up when I see people railing on MS with no justification other than that they either dont know the intended use of a MS application, or dont know how to use it themselves and then just get pissed off at the only thing they can find I.E. that MS is a freaking huge and extremely profitable company.

Again i'm sorry for attacking you after I myself misread your post and its intentions.

I also agree with you."Free market how ever doesn't necessitate right or wrong."I think though it is a great tool to inspire competition and growth, that it can be unfairly abused and needs some regulation.And thank you for actually rereading my comment, I'm glad I have replay value LOL.